WNYC, WBEZ podcast producer joins leadership team at NPR Utah
Joel Meyer named director of programming and promotion at KUER
Podcast and talk show producer Joel Meyer, whose work includes Making Oprah, Making Obama and American Fiasco is joining KUER, Utah’s statewide NPR affiliate, as its director of programming and promotion.
Meyer was most recently an executive producer at WNYC Studios. Before that, he was an executive producer of talk programming at WBEZ Chicago, a managing producer of podcasts at Slate.com and the executive producer of Soundcheck at WNYC .
Meyer holds degrees from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the University of Minnesota. His most recent project, American Fiasco, is a 12-part series about the meltdown of the U.S. men’s soccer team at the 1998 World Cup. Making Oprah tells the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic TV talk show through interviews with producers, staffers, TV executives, ratings rival Phil Donahue, and Winfrey herself. Making Obama chronicles how Chicago shaped the country’s first African-American president.
“I am so, so excited to join NPR Utah,” Meyer said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work inside stations that are investing in local news, championing great shows and stories, and finding innovative ways to build upon public media’s founding principles. KUER is doing all of these things in one of the most exciting -- and beautiful -- news landscapes in the country. While I am terrified of downhill skiing, I am absolutely thrilled about becoming a Utahn and getting to work with the KUER team.
Meyer will work collaboratively with veteran RadioWest host and executive producer Doug Fabrizio and recently hired news director Andrew Becker – formerly of The Center for Investigative Reporting + Reveal, who is leading KUER’s largest newsroom to date – in launching content for the station’s traditional program schedule as well as evolving digital platforms.
“We are at an important crossroads in broadcasting, podcasting and journalism, especially for public media,” said KUER General Manager Maria O’Mara. “We are looking to deepen engagement with our loyal listeners and welcome new audiences to KUER. That happens primarily through excellent programs, wisely promoted. Joel has a proven track record for nurturing good work on the air and online, collaborating with talented content creators and shepherding successful new projects. We look forward to the mark he will make on our station and our community.”